Commentaries on Matthew

 it speaks of one who is uninitiated toward it, therefore the virgin has no thought of suspicion toward any other man. 8 Mt 1, 21 If he has a people ev

 flower, this name is found among many for Daniel calls him holy of holies. And Isaiah: a rod from the root of Jesse and a flower from it and the

 he was asking for he was unrepentant, but so that he might draw Christ into vainglory. Knowing this, the Savior did not obey him. 32 Mt 4, 3-4 Wishin

 making peace with him. Blessed are such as these, as having imitated the Son of God for they will be called sons, having partaken of immortality, tha

 which Luke, clarifying, named lepton. But let us be reconciled both with the enemy and avenger, that is, the devil, while we are on this way, and wi

 61 Mt 5, 31 He who casts out the chaste woman gives her permission to be married to another, which is a form of adultery as if the union were not diss

 6, 14 Jesus is also able as God to forgive sins, but as his disciples were still imperfect he had not yet clearly delivered the teaching concerning hi

 they condemn. For they sometimes say about someone: so-and-so is harsh, inhuman, greedy for gain, a lover of money, cruel, foolish, and then, attribut

 and 'the living bird' he sent out of the city into the field. Observe, therefore, how Christ is completely portrayed for us through the things tha

 having cast down the tyranny of the devil. You have come, they say, before the time for they knew in the word, that Christ was to come and that he ha

 if a profane person approaches a holy one, he must be turned away according to the saying: You shall not abhor an Edomite or an Egyptian. But in the

 what is not his, for suddenly those who bite him will rise up, and your plotters will awake, and you will become plunder for them· for Satan gathered

 He says the cities of Israel are also the assemblies of the faithful, which exist until the consummation of the age, and the teachers and the taught d

 rather from God. John indeed was born of a woman, but those who have accepted the faith are no longer called born of women, but were born of God. An

 in all my heart. But those of a twisted mind say, Behold, he gives thanks to the Father then how is he not less than him? To this, one of those wh

 the new covenant proclaimed through Jeremiah is alongside the first covenant, it is altogether necessary to use not the ancient laws, but the new ones

 to do. But they said this as if He was not able to do any of the things befitting God, being blinded in their mind for to open the eyes of the blind

 for those who have had a spark of intelligible light, but have turned to unintelligent knowledge, even the little gleam which they have will be exting

 having a sea-faring trade, they let down the net, not distinguishing, but whatever is caught in the meshes, this they drag completely and entirely to

 spiritual and able to sow seed and to teach the rest and strong enough to measure to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. 180 Mt 14

 The Lord calls them foolish who are concerned with the body, like the Pharisees, and who have not yet passed over to the inner man. Foods, therefore,

 to fall into weaknesses and, having thought of something like this, to say: How will someone deny himself? Or how, having lost his own soul, will he f

 and it was necessary for the father of the possessed one to go away grieving, not having obtained the favor, since he did not make his approach blamel

 of painful things and they feel more of these than of the most pleasant. 211 Mt 17, 24 And they cunningly ask Peter. Since, he says, it is his custom

 of those returning who once turned away from the desire for virtue, it is necessary to fear the voices of the saints, even if those who are defining i

 a reason for condemnation, who would not hereafter hold responsible the transgression against one thing, not even one who has fled? For not even the v

 times, and that some were found virtuous, but others despised the future age because of foolishness. But at the end of life, which is evening (for the

 being by nature also the Son of the Father became man and came in the name of the Lord, being called the Lord. This one therefore, as God by nature, i

 When the Jews were cast out of the temple with the typical sacrifices, the blind and the lame are healed, who are a type of the Gentiles. However, let

 a way and the fellowship with the Spirit, through which one obtains the kingdom of the heavens. 244 Mt 21, 42 The blessed David has marveled at this c

 they came into the midst and a certain lawyer, considered very learned among them, asks what is the great commandment in the law, thinking that he was

 having become their confessors, that the prophets have become revered and honored, they adorned for them the crowns, that is, the monuments, assigning

 it has an intelligible vision through faith for when the fullness of the gentiles has come in and they believe in Christ, then the Jews who believe

 the narrative and to try to be as precise as possible in detail. But if they should wish to learn excessively something beyond their own measure, to r

 for such a one is a partaker of the master's entire kingdom for this is what is meant by he will set him over all his possessions. He does not say

 280 Mt 25, 1-13 He compares the leaders of the peoples to virgins the minister must be spotless in both soul and body, just as Paul says, that she m

 the present time is for work, but the future for reward. 281 Mt 25, 6-9 Souls that neglect virtue wither and are, as it were, extinguished and proceed

 of the blessed David he accused, saying: But you, a man of one soul, who together with me shared sweet morsels. And again: He who eats my bread has

 sending into the souls of those who worship him and distributing according to the measure of each but that we will be in spiritual joys, the divine D

 He said twelve legions: speaking instead of you, the twelve disciples, so that I do not need your assistance for I have not used my power, but I give

 foretold for one says: Woe to the lawless one evil will befall him according to his works. And another: as you have done, so it shall be to you

 to be renewed, even if the former, like one of the robbers, refused, saying we have no king but Caesar and asking for the innocent blood to be on hi

 against those who had transgressed against him. And the rending of the rocks signifies that the souls of the Gentiles were opened to receive the faith

 with proclamations, and the armies of the spirits above attend to the son as master and lord of all, and when he became flesh, that is, man. 318 Mt 28

"and 'the living bird'" he sent out of the city "into the field." Observe, therefore, how Christ is completely portrayed for us through the things that have been said. For through the living bird you will understand the living and heavenly Word, and through the blood of the slain one the precious blood of the suffering Lord (for we say that He suffered in the flesh, but as in His own body), and through the incorruptible wood (for such is cedarwood) the incorruptible flesh; for the body of Christ "did not see corruption." And through the hyssop, the fervor of the Spirit (for the herb is warm and cleanses affections arising from coldness), such is the energy and power of the Holy Spirit. And through the scarlet, the confession of the covenant in blood. And through the living water, the life-giving grace of baptism, by which he who is leprous with sin is cleansed. And through the sending away of the living bird outside the city, we are taught the removal from the world and the ascension into heaven of Christ. For having thus become for all of us before the Father and God, He will make atonement and we will be cleansed. And through the anointing of the right parts of the leper, the ear and hand and foot, the necessity of our being engaged in divine things in theory and in practice and in conduct. 95 Mt 8, 16 But why did they not bring them during the day? Was it out of reverence for the scribes and Pharisees, or again being ashamed of their infirmities like Nicodemus, or because the sick had no one to bring them to Jesus. 96 Mt 8, 18 And Christ withdrew from the crowds, lest he might seem to be boastful, delighting in the praises of the many, and lest the Pharisees become angry with him; for it greatly distressed them that many followed him; and so that his own saving light might shine upon the nearby cities. 97 Mt 8, 18-22 And Jesus commands only the disciples to go to the other side, lest the disciples be thought to be hindered by the crowds pressing upon him from hearing the lessons appropriate for them and the mysteries of God, which were about to be revealed to them more genuinely, those things spoken "in parables to the crowds"; since, having left all things in their hands, they alone followed him for the sake of learning, he also commands them to cross over from temporary things to eternal things, from earthly things to heavenly things, from carnal things to spiritual things. 98 Mt 8, 21 Where honor toward God is not at issue, it is right to honor parents; but when the two are at stake, one must be held fast, and the other despised, especially if the honor toward parents is an obstacle to pleasing God; for God must be glorified with the first things, lest we be found like Cain offering the second things to God. Similarly, the old law also prevented the priests from approaching the dead and from holding their own liturgy and not being brought down to carnal sympathies, but that one through shadows, while Christ openly teaches the one who wants to attend to God to take no account of any kinship, so as to be preoccupied with being with Christ; for he himself, for the benefit of those with him, disregarded his mother and brothers, saying: "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers" and "is my mother". 99 Mt 8, 25 To say "save" contains praise of faith, but to say "we are perishing" is an accusation of little faith for those who expect danger while Christ sails with them. They are not entirely without faith, but of little faith, those who did not take courage in dangers while Christ was with them. 100 Mt 8, 25-26 See little faith with faith; for they believe that he is able to save, but as people of little faith they say, "Save, we are perishing"; for it was never possible to perish while the all-powerful one was with them. 101 Mt 8, 29 The divine nature of the only-begotten burned the demons with an ineffable fire, just as it also did other things unseen, shutting up the more savage of the demons into paths and the of the

"τὸ" δὲ "ὀρνίθιον τὸ ζῶν" ἔξω τῆς πόλεως "εἰς τὸ πεδίον" ἐξαπέστειλεν. ἐπιτήρει οὖν, ὅπως διὰ τῶν εἰρημένων ὁλο κλήρως ἡμῖν ζωγραφεῖται Χριστός· διὰ μὲν γὰρ τοῦ ζῶντος ὀρνιθίου τὸν ζῶντά τε καὶ οὐράνιον νοήσεις λόγον, διὰ δὲ τοῦ αἵματος τοῦ ἐ σφαγμένου τὸ τίμιον αἷμα τοῦ παθόντος κυρίου (σαρκὶ γὰρ αὐτὸν πεπον θέναι φαμὲν πλὴν ὡς ἐν ἰδίῳ σώματι), διὰ δὲ τοῦ ἀσήπτου ξύλου (τοιοῦτον γὰρ τὸ κέδρινον) τὴν ἀδιάφθορον σάρκα· οὐ γὰρ "εἶδε δια φθορὰν" τὸ σῶμα Χριστοῦ. διὰ δὲ τοῦ ὑσσώπου τὴν τοῦ πνεύματος ζέσιν (θερμὴ γὰρ ἡ πόα καὶ τῶν ἐκ ψυχρότητος παθῶν σμηκτική) τοι αύτη δὲ ἡ τοῦ ἁγίου πνεύματος ἐνέργειά τε καὶ δύναμις. διὰ δὲ τοῦ κοκκίνου τῆς ἐφ' αἵματι διαθήκης τὴν ὁμολογίαν. διὰ δὲ τοῦ ζῶντος ὕδατος τὴν ζωοποιὸν τοῦ βαπτίσματος χάριν, δι' οὗ ὁ λεπρωθεὶς τῇ ἁμαρτίᾳ καθαίρεται. διὰ δὲ τοῦ ἔξω τῆς πόλεως τὸ ζῶν ὀρνίθιον ἀπο στέλλεσθαι τὴν ἀπὸ τοῦ κόσμου μετάστασιν καὶ τὴν εἰς οὐρανοὺς ἀνά βασιν τοῦ Χριστοῦ διδασκόμεθα. γεγονὼς γὰρ οὕτως πρὸς τὸν πατέρα καὶ θεὸν ὑπὲρ ἁπάντων ἡμῶν ἐξιλάσεται καὶ καθαρισθησόμεθα. διὰ δὲ τοῦ χρίεσθαι τὰ δεξιὰ τοῦ λεπροῦ, ὠτίον καὶ χεῖρα καὶ πόδα τὸ δεῖν πρὸς τῇ θεωρίᾳ καὶ τῇ πράξει καὶ τῇ πορείᾳ ἐν τοῖς θείοις ἡμᾶς γε νέσθαι. 95 Mt 8, 16 ∆ιὰ τί δὲ ἡμέρας οὐ προσήνεγκαν; πότερον εὐλαβούμενοι τοὺς γραμματεῖς καὶ Φαρισαίους ἢ ἂν πάλιν αἰσχυνόμενοι ἐπὶ ταῖς ἀσθενείαις αὐτῶν ὡς Νικόδημος ἢ ἂν διὰ τὸ μὴ ἔχειν τοὺς ἀσθενοῦντάς τινας προσαγαγεῖν αὐτοὺς τῷ Ἰησοῦ. 96 Mt 8, 18 Ἀπεχώρει δὲ ὁ Χριστὸς ἀπὸ τῶν ὄχλων, ἵνα μὴ δόξῃ τις φιλό κομπος εἶναι χαίρων τοῖς παρὰ τῶν πολλῶν ἐπαίνοις καὶ ἵνα μὴ ὀργί ζωνται κατ' αὐτοῦ οἱ Φαρισαῖοι· ἐλύπει γὰρ αὐτοὺς σφόδρα τὸ ἀκολου θεῖν αὐτῷ πολλούς· καὶ ἵνα ταῖς πλησίον πόλεσιν ἐπιλάμψῃ τὸ οἰκεῖον καὶ σωτήριον φῶς. 97 Mt 8, 18-22 Κελεύει δὲ μόνοις τοῖς μαθηταῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἀπελθεῖν εἰς τὸ πέραν, ἵνα μὴ δοκῇ ἐμποδίζεσθαι ὑπὸ τῶν θλιβόντων αὐτὸν ὄχλων ἀκούειν τοὺς μαθητὰς τῶν ἁρμοζόντων αὐτοῖς μαθημάτων καὶ γνησιω τέρως μελλόντων αὐτοῖς ἀποκαλύπτεσθαι τῶν τοῦ θεοῦ μυστηρίων, τῶν "ἐν παραβολαῖς τοῖς ὄχλοις" λαλουμένων· ἐπεὶ πάντα τὰ ἐν χερσὶ κατα λείψαντες μόνοι αὐτῷ ἠκολούθησαν ἕνεκεν φιλομαθίας, κελεύει δὲ δια περᾶν ἀπὸ τῶν προσκαίρων ἐπὶ τὰ αἰώνια, ἀπὸ τῶν ἐπιγείων ἐπὶ τὰ ἐπουράνια, ἀπὸ τῶν σαρκικῶν ἐπὶ τὰ πνευματικά. 98 Mt 8, 21 Ἔνθα μὴ πρόκειται εἰ πρὸς θεὸν τιμή, δίκαιον τιμᾶν τοὺς γονεῖς· ἐπὰν δὲ τὰ δύο ἐν μέσῳ ᾖ, τοῦ μὲν δεῖ ἀντέχεσθαι, τοῦ δὲ καταφρονεῖν, μάλιστα εἰ ἐμποδίζεται πρὸς τὸ ἀρέσαι θεῷ ἡ πρὸς τοὺς γονεῖς τιμή· τοῖς γὰρ πρωτείοις δεῖ δοξάσαι τὸν θεόν, ἵνα μὴ εὑρεθῶμεν κατὰ τὸν Κάϊν τὰ δευτερεῖα τῷ θεῷ ἀπονέμοντες. ὁμοίως καὶ ὁ παλαιὸς νόμος τοὺς ἱερέας ἐκώλυε προσπελάζειν τοῖς νεκροῖς καὶ τῆς οἰκείας ἔχεσθαι λει τουργίας καὶ μὴ κατάγεσθαι περὶ τὰς σαρκικὰς συμπαθείας, ἀλλ' ἐκεῖνος μὲν διὰ σκιῶν, ὁ δὲ Χριστὸς ἀπαρακαλύπτως διδάσκει τὸν τῷ θεῷ προσεδρεύειν θέλοντα μηδεμιᾶς συγγενείας λόγον ποιεῖσθαι εἰς τὸ ἀπα σχοληθῆναι τῷ συνεῖναι Χριστῷ· καὶ γὰρ αὐτὸς διὰ τὴν πρὸς τοὺς συν όντας ὠφέλειαν ὑπερεῖδεν μητέρα καὶ ἀδελφοὺς εἰπών· "τίς ἐστιν ἡ μήτηρ μου, καὶ τίνες οἱ ἀδελφοί μου" καὶ "μήτηρ μού ἐστιν". 99 Mt 8, 25 Τὸ εἰπεῖν σῶσον ἔπαινον ἔχει πίστεως, τὸ δὲ εἰπεῖν ἀπολλύμεθα ἔγκλημα ὀλιγοπιστίας τοῖς κίνδυνον ἐλπίζουσι συμπλέοντος Χριστοῦ. οὐκ ἄπιστοι δὲ ὁλοτελῶς, ἀλλ' ὀλιγόπιστοι οἱ μὴ καταθαρσήσαντες κινδύνων συνόντος Χριστοῦ. 100 Mt 8, 25-26 βλέπε μετὰ πίστεως ὀλι γοπιστίαν· πιστεύουσι μὲν γάρ, ὅτι σῶσαι δύναται, ὡς δὲ ὀλιγόπιστοι λέγουσι τὸ σῶσον, ἀπολλύμεθα· οὐ γὰρ ἦν ἐφικτὸν ἀπολέσθαι ποτὲ συνόντος αὐτοῖς τοῦ πάντα ἰσχύοντος. 101 Mt 8, 29 Ἡ θεία τοῦ μονογενοῦς φύσις ἀφράστῳ πυρὶ κατέφλεγεν τοὺς δαίμονας ὥσπερ καὶ ἄλλα ἀφανῶς ἐποίει, τοὺς ἀγριωτέρους τῶν δαι μόνων εἰς ὁδοὺς ἐγκλείων καὶ τὴν τοῦ